One of my favorite times in the garden is when I’m harvesting fresh flowers and herbs to make herbal tea.
The simple, mindful act of going outside with a basket and picking a blend of herbs for tea is almost as refreshing as drinking the tea itself.
I would highly encourage you to grow your own herbs and pick them fresh to make herbal tea.
I’ve been growing and brewing my own herbal tea infusions for the last three years, and I’ve learned how to make the best cup of tea using my favorite garden herbs.
Brewing loose-leaf herbal tea really is not much different from brewing bagged teas.
You boil water and cover the leaves with it. Let it steep, then strain and enjoy.
It’s very simple, and if that’s all you did, you would have a decent cup of tea.
However, if you want to make a great cup of herbal tea, there are a few tweaks to these steps that will take your tea from good to amazing.
Growing herbal tea and drinking it has been such a rewarding experience, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned about brewing it.
There truly is no drink more satisfying than one that you grew and made yourself.
Let’s get started.
What You Will Need to Brew Loose Leaf Herbal Tea
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At the bare minimum, you will need dried or fresh herbs and flowers for tea, something to boil water and tea leaves in, something to strain your tea with, and a cup to sip the tea out of.
Use whatever you have on hand that will get the job done, as long as it has a lid. (I’ll explain why in Step 3.)
But if you plan on making garden-grown herbal tea regularly, this is the equipment I personally like to use.
- An electric tea kettle (I’m notorious for forgetting pots of boiling water on the stove. I like that an electric kettle shuts off on its own and that it doesn’t whistle obnoxiously like stovetop kettles.)
- A French press (These are not only good for making coffee in, but they are in fact great for larger batches of tea. This is my go-to in the winter months.)
- A tea strainer (I use this exact cup-shaped strainer/infuser with a lid. Absolutely do not get the little balls or clip ones. They are so tiny and so hard to use. I think they are fine for loose-leaf black teas, but not great for herbal tea.)
You will of course need your herbs and flowers for tea, either dried or fresh.
Growing your own tea is the best way to ensure that you have high-quality organic ingredients with no added filler or “natural flavoring.” If you have never grow tea before, start with one or all of the herbs I review in this post.
Choose a combination of any of the following for tea:
- mint
- chamomile
- lavender
- basil
- anise hyssop
- holy basil or tulsi
- thyme
- dried lemon or orange
- stevia
- sage
- fresh ginger root
- hibiscus flowers
- rose petals
- nettle leaves
- red raspberry leaves
- fresh or dried berries
You can also add a sweetener of your choice to your tea. Honey is my favorite sweetener to use.
How to Brew Loose Leaf Herbal Tea
Ok, now that we have everything we need for the best brewing experience, let’s make that tea!
Step One: Boil Water, But Not Too Hot
First, boil water in your tea kettle or in a pot on the stove. Do not let the water reach a rolling boil.
Turn it off once the bubbles in the water begin to reach the surface to keep your water oxygenated. It just tastes better, trust me.
The water temperature should get up to 180°F-212°F, but stop heating it once you reach this temperature range.
Step Two: Prepare Your Herbs and Flowers
While the water is heating up, prepare your leaves and flowers.
Measure out 1-2 tablespoons of dried herbs and flowers for every 8 ounces tea you plan to drink. My French press yields about 3 cups of tea, and I prefer my tea strong, so I would measure 6 tablespoons.
If you are using fresh herbs, double the amount.
Lightly crush or squeeze the herbs and flowers as you put them in your strainer or press.
Step Three: Steep the Herbs
Next, pour the hot water over your tea.
Cover the vessel immediately.
Covering the tea keeps volatile essential oils from evaporating with the steaming water and makes a more aromatic and flavorful tea.
Allow your herbs to steep for at least 10 minutes or up to an hour. The longer you steep the tea, the stronger it will be.
I typically just wait until it’s cool enough to drink.
Step Four: Strain, Sweeten, and Enjoy
Strain the herbs, add your sweetener of choice, and enjoy your tea hot or iced.
Other Ways to Enjoy Herbal Tea
Here are some other ways to enjoy herbal tea:
- Sweetened and iced; freshly made tea will last up to a week in the fridge
- Frozen in ice cube trays
- Mixed with fruit juice or fresh lemonade
- Mixed with a splash of warm milk
And if you are ready to grow your own herbal tea garden, be sure to check out my post on 5 easy-to-grow herbs for your garden.